It's gettin' better all the time!

(Try singing it in a clipped, British voice, and follow with "better, better, be-e-ett-tt-tter!" A great Beatles song--but then, I like the part in the movie, "Imagine", where John Lennon adds his own special lyric: "It couldn't get no worse!")

It really IS getting better all the time, though. I hadn't realized how wonderful my two helpers are until they were both sick this weekend. Lindsay had stomach flu and a fever from Friday through Sunday, and Josie had a horrible cough (lost her voice for a while) and a fever from Sunday through Tuesday. I truly DO rely on their help--whether that's with Donovan or just around the house. Thank you for all you do, Sunshine Girl and Angel Baby!!! Always remember, Mommy loves you!!!

Things are going much better with Donovan. He lets me sleep quite a bit at night, and the breastfeeding is improving daily. I can't believe I waited a whole month before going in to see a Lactation Consultant. (Luckily, my pediatrician's office has two that I can go see, where I can pay my tiny little co-pay; rather than me going to the other facility available in town and paying $95 for one visit!) I'd assumed, incorrectly, that having breastfed two other babies meant I knew all I needed to know about feeding this one! I got a few tips on improving Donovan's latch, as well as help with frequency issues and a few other items.

I hope I never again underestimate the power of asking for help. There is no shame in that--in fact, asking for help is a way of taking a step to improve a situation. Better to do that than to simply give up. I don't know if I was afraid or proud or what, but I hope I can take this as a life-lesson and ask for help in ANY situation when I need it!

Thanks to all those who have helped me, in so many ways, these past few days and weeks! I am truly blessed!

Here's our happy little guy, making faces at Mommy!

One Day at a Time

Remember that show, from the 70's? I used to love that show! I think I understand, a little better now, why they would call it One Day at a Time. The mom, who was a divorcee (an interesting word to me back then, when I was not even a pre-teen yet and didn't fully understand the facts of life--another great show, by the way!), was the main focus of the show, trying to get through life with her two teenage daughters in a period where liberated women were still a novelty. Well, obviously, I don't have the same issues as hers (thank goodness my daughters aren't teenagers yet, and where in the world would I be without my fabulous husband???), but I understand the sentiment.
Okay, I'll admit, I've had a rough few days. I tried keeping a stiff upper lip to those I don't speak with that frequently, but to a chosen few, there were definitely bouts of me crying and complaining, just certain I wouldn't make it through this newborn stage. Lucky for me, I have a GREAT support system! I couldn't hope to get over this hurdle without my husband and friends and family. Thanks to those of you who have listened and given me words of encouragement, etc. I really do appreciate you all so very much!
I spoke with my mother the other day--on one of my 'good' days--and she talked a bit about how she had my older brother when she and my father were stationed in Chicago, while Dad was in the Army. She didn't know anyone, other than a few co-workers (and I think she'd started a new job shortly before having my brother, so it wasn't like these were people she'd known for long), and of course there was no family around. She gave breastfeeding a try, but there were no lactation consultants in those days, like I'm blessed to have today. She didn't have her mother there to help her work through it until my brother was at least a week old (at that kind of time, every moment of every day matters... if you lose a week when you're learning to breastfeed, it's a pretty substantial loss). Plus, she'd never had a baby before. Anyone who's had a baby must know how important it is to have help, from whoever offers! I am so impressed that my Mom made it through that difficult time and even went on to have two more children!!! (I might have given up after one!)
I determined the other day (and the few mothers I've spoken to about this have agreed) that part of why women are so hormonal after giving birth is to help them forget what these few weeks, even months, are like.... We forget so that we'll go on to have more babies. If we didn't forget the hard times (or at least, if the memories didn't grow kind of hazy as time goes on), nobody would ever have more than one child. Thank goodness for the hormones and the ability to forget the bad stuff and just remember the good stuff!
And so, my point is that I'm doing better now (still have the same basic issues--tired, sore, emotional--but to a slightly lesser degree, and getting better every day). Also, I received some great advice from a wonderful friend of mine. I was in the middle of crying and complaining about the discomfort I was feeling, and my friend said, "You're so focused on breastfeeding for a whole year..." and I said, "Well, I've decided to focus on getting through the first six weeks." And she paused a moment, then said, "Tracy, you need to focus on TODAY. Get through today. That's all you need to do." She was right. I can't possibly hope to make it six weeks or a year if I'm not able to get through today... and taking it one day at a time makes it so much easier than having that huge goal hanging over my head. So that's where I am now--taking it one day at a time.

Little Boy

Here are a few recent pix of Sir Donovan. And I love the stork out in front of the house! My friend Anita and her husband set that up for us the day we returned from the hosptial. It sure survived the snow storm that day way better than the little paper-board sign we got from the hospital. Things are going pretty well, I think. We're all adjusting to life with a newborn in the house. You'd think I'd never had a baby before! I had totally forgotten the challenges of lack of sleep, soreness all over, and the fact that I can't ever get anything else done. But this little guy is so sweet and perfect, I think I can take the challenges!

It's a boy!

Well, we KNEW we were having a boy, but it's still fun to say so. My goodness, what a beautiful little child. I'm SO in love with him, I can't even tell you! Okay, here's the scoop: Donovan James was born on Dec. 27 at 8:29 a.m. He weighed 9lb. 7oz. and was 21 1/2 inches long. I had him via C-Section, so I got to stay in the hospital for five days (they say it's four days, but they start counting that recovery time on the day AFTER the birth of the baby). I LOVE that hospital food (not to mention the tea cart, with the awesome cakes and other desserts), and it was great having people take care of me as well as my baby. I think the nursing staff at St. Elizabeth's Hospital is fantastic--they were all so wonderful. (Okay, not ALL of them... there was one nursing assistant from the nursery who didn't quite "click" with me, but then, I was very emotional at the time, too, so I'm sure I didn't make her life easy, either. I mentioned it to my nurse right away, though, and she had another -- far better -- nurse assigned to me for the rest of that shift.) Beyond the one incident, I felt totally spoiled and was completely and totally comfortable with the care I was receiving and the care Donovan was receiving.
The girls are, as you can imagine, GREAT helpers now that Donovan and I are home. We are on about a three hour cycle--he's nursing about every three hours. When I need help with changing diapers or bathing or even just trying to reach my water bottle when I'm in the middle of nursing, the girls practically fall all over themselves to help me (except when Nickelodeon is on!)... and as for holding Donovan. Well, they are not only excellent at that, but they are getting very good at being patient about taking turns.
I think this has been a particuarly trying time for Josie, going all-of-a-sudden from being the baby in the family. She's handling it pretty well, for the most part. And, of course, Lindsay continually demonstrates on a daily basis her heart of gold, not only doing what she can to care for me and Donovan, but also taking Josie even more under her wing than before. Jim and I are so blessed to have such wonderful children! As for Jim, I can't begin to list the ways he has taken care of me and spoiled me. He's not only a rock for me, emotionally, but he does anything and everything he can around the house to keep life flowing smoothly, PLUS he gets up in the middle of the night with me to help get Donovan changed so I can just sit down and feed him (or, as he did last night, he'll get up just to calm Donovan down and rock with him for a while after eating, so I can catch a few more winks).
I will continue posting pictures as I get them taken and downloaded. Donovan has already changed so much from those pictures of his first days. He's 12 days old now and has already filled out so much and has way better coloring. I can see it's going to be a challenge for me... as a congratulatory card we received says, our camera will have a hard time "keeping up with all the cute". Too true!
Thanks for checking in and thanks to all of you who have called, written, come to visit, or brought (or are bringing) food. We appreciate all the well-wishes, and it warms our hearts to know so many people care for us!